Ship-launching device



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f E. FURLONG. SH l P LAuNcH x Ns Driv l ce. FILED JUNE 4. 1931'.

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Patented Der. Ztl,

FRANK FUPULONG, OF JERSEY CTY, NEW JERSEY.

SHXP-LAUNCHNG DE'VJECE.

Application led June l,

To all fw hom t may concern:

Be it known that l, FRANK FUnLoNo, citizen of the United States, and resident of Jersey City, in the county ot Hudson and State et New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful. improvements in Ship- Launching Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a ship launching device.

The object ot the invention is the production of such a device whereby the weight of the ship is taken off the keel blocks during the launching and avoids injury to said blocks, as the ship slides down into the water. A further object of the invention is to prevent the expensive and tedious method of inserting wedges in the blocking that supports the sides of the ship previous to its launching.

The organization of the invention comprises essentially a pair of standing timbers that are slidably supported on roller bearing plates7 which in turn are supported on a series of rollers which are located adjacent to each other and vary in diameter 'trom one end of the series to the other. rlhe rollers are supported on inclined bearing faces ont roller bearing casings.

Sliding timbers which support the ship or other object to be launched are slidably sup ported on the standing timbers. Means are provided to longitudinally move the standing timbers, and while moving in one direction are slightlyy raised by reason of' the rollers rolling from one end oi their casings to the other. rllhe sliding timbers with the ship are raised with the elevations of the standing timbers. rlhe sliding timbers are then released and they, with their load, slide down the standing timbers and runway timbers extending therefrom int-o the water.

The drawings represent one exemplication o t the invention.

Fig. l, represents side elevation ot' the ship launching device with portions thereof broken away with a ship in. place; 2 shows a partial top plan view or' l; Fig. 3 indicates an enlarged. 'fragmentary portion of Fig. 'l with some details in sec-- tion on the line 3, ott 4; Fig. l shows a top plan view of Fig. 3 with some of the parts broken away and omitted; Fig. 5 represents an enlarged section of Fig. l

1921. sensi no. tracas.

on the line 5, 5; Fig. 6 shows an enlarged side elevation ot some details; Fig. 7 represents a top plan view of Fig. 6 and Fig. 8 shows an enlarged fragmentary portion of Fig. 67 and Fig. 9 indicates a fragmentary portion of Fig. 6 with some of the elements in a different position.

Files are indicated at 2O and have secured thereto the cross timbers 2l for the inclined flooring 22. Longitudinal stringers 26 are secured to the flooring 22 and have in turn fastened thereto the blocks 27, that support the usual wedges 28, 29 for the keel blocks 30. rEwo rows o1 supporting blocks 32 with tapered notches 34- in their upper aces 35 are secured to the' iooring 22. Cross planks 39 connect the opposite pairs of blocks 32. Metallic roller bearing casings 4:0 are supported in the notches 34. Each casing 40 comprises the inclined bottom wall l-l with the straight edge l2 at one end and the Jflange i3 with the top edge ld at its other end. The edges 4t2 and all are in line with the upper face 35 03: its block 32. A series of rollers indicated at to 52 are located in each casing A0. The smallest roller is shown at L5 and the largest roller at 52. The diameters ot said rollers gradually increase from t5 to 52 and their cylindrical surfaces slightly extend above the plane of the edges l2 and i4 of the casing 40. A roller bearing plate 53 is supported on said rollers.

Stationary' tapering supporting timbers 60 longitudinally in line with the supporting blocks 32 are fastened to the flooring 22. runway timber 6i with the upper abutting end 62 and the tapered upper end tace 63 is fastened to each of the supporting timbers 60. A standing timber designated in its entirety by the letter A and having ends 64 and 65, the upper tace 66 and the lower tace 67 comprises three timbers connected together and slidably located above each ot the rows of supporting blocks 32. rlhe lower 'face 67 of each standing timber' A is supported upon the roller bearing plates 53. A guide plank 68 is fastened to the outer tace or' each standing timber A and an abutting rail 69 is fastened to each guide plank 68. Linked chains 70 are located on the outer faces of the standing timbers A and on the outer faces of the guide planks 68. The upper ends oi" the chains 70 are shown with the links 7l and the lower ends oft the chains .70 have connected. thereto the U shaped links of which are somewhat smallerv indian'ieterH than the openings therefor in said Wedge. The other portion of the `Wedgev be rs on the tapered upper end face 63 of the runway timber 61. Posts 70 with the tables 77 and upper.y portions 78 are fastened tothe flooring 22 adjacent to the outer faces of the blocks 32 and may also be located adjacent to 'the outer faces of the timbers 60. Longitudinal rails 82 connect the posts i0 and braces 83 connect the upper portions 73 and the ,flooring 22; rlhe upper portions 73 abut against the abutting rails 69.

Upon each standing timber A. is slidably supported 'the sliding' timber designai'ied in its entirety by the letter B, and comprises in this instance the ron/s of three timbers 811 which together' are of the same Width as the standing timber The ripper edges of the timbers B are indicated at 85. rihe timbers 84 are connected by the side links 90 which are pinned to the accompanying` ends of said timbers by the pins 91, whereby flexibility is obtained for the sliding timbers L3.

wililedge shaped blockingfd and 95 located upon each of the sliding timbers B. Holdino' tiinbers 96 bear against the outer faces or the blocking 931- and lashing 97 connect the holding timbers 96. Between the accompanying faces of the timbers il and B is interposed a viscous lubricant.

A housing is indicated in its entirety by the letter C, and comprises the posts 100, 101, cross girders 102, 1037 floor timbers 1011; and the flooring 105. Longitudinal girders 106 are supported on the. cross girders 102 and longitudinal-holding timbers 103 are supported on the cross girders 103. A. cross timber 111 connects the holding timbers 1.03. To each of the sliding timbers B are fastened a. pair of journal bearing irons 1111 and each of said irons is proifided. 'with a shackle iron 115. To the sides ofeach of the holding tin'ibers 10S are secured journal bearing irons 110. latch shaft 11T is journaled in the journal bearing` irons 110 and hasextending therefrom the latch books 11S and the locking handle 119. A.ln the cross timber 111is secured a metallic tapered sleeve 120 'for the gib 121 with the bead.

- and the tapered key 123 having the open-- titi ing 124: in its head. l A ship l.) isisupported upon the keelblocks 30 and the blocking` 951.; and 95. Posts 1.28 abut against the girders 106,y the holding timbers 103 and the outer` girders 102. Each of the links Y1 of the prises the side members 130 Which are fasthe 'Winding drums 1411.

tened to its link 71, the latter extending up some distance between said members. Cross bolts 131 and journal bolts 132 connect the said .side members 130 and extend through the .links 1. Sheaves 133 are journaled on the journal bolts 132.` U shaped members 130 extend around each pair of posts 128. Each of the members 136 has connected thereto a tackle block l? similar to the tackle blocks E.

A pair of pillerT blocks 133 is supported upon and fastened to the longitudinal girders 106. A drum shaft 139 is journaled in the pillow blocks`138. rrcombined spur gear 1110; Winding drums 1&1 and ratchet wheels 142 are fastened to 'the drum shaft 139. Pau/ls 143 are indicated With the pivots 14rd. rllhe pivots are supported in the pillow blocks 141-5 which are fastened to the girders 106 and the paWls 1113 engage the teeth of the ratchet Wheels Four pillow `blocks 1e? are supported upon and *fastenedl to girderslOS `andhave onrnaled therein the small drum shaft 150.` Drums 151 and the pinion 152 are fastened to the shaft150. .The pinion 152 meshes with the spur gear 14o. y

l/Vire ropes 155 have one end each fastened to the tackle blocks F, Wind aroundA the sheaves of the tackle blocks E and Fand have their other ends fastened to and Wound around the drums 151. llV 1re ropes 15G have one end each fastened to vand wound around To use the launching device the keel of the ship is located upon the reel bloc is 30, and built in the regular Way. The sliding timbers B are located. with their top'ends close to the adjacent ends of the longitudinal holding timbers 1.08. The latch hooks 118 of the latch shaft 117 are `locked with their coacting` shackle irons 115. The locking handle 119 is swung to its horizontal position. The gib 121" is' located inthe sleeve 120 with its bead 122 bearing on the end of the handle 110. The key 123 is next locked "-.vithfsaid gib. The blocking 94; and 05 is located upon the sliding timbers B to support the ship D. The holdingtimbers 96 `with the lashing 0'? is put in place in the iunialpiray. riChc'standing timbers A. have their upper ends tiel. spaced. from the yhousing C. ldower'. not shown, isajplied to the wire and the ropes 155 are Wound on the drums llhe tackle blocks E now more toward the ltackle blocks 1*" whereby the standing ytimbers n. are moyedt'oward'the lhousing.; YWhile the timbersl 1%.a1'e'inov-1'iig towardftlie housing C the roller bearing plates 53 .ride

supported on said rollers,

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on the rollers to 52 and the latter nieve trom the edges ot the `flanges -l-S toward the edges L12 oi the casings 10.

lVith the movements ot rollers in the casings 4l() and the consequent movements ot the bearing plates 5B, the latter rise and raise the standing timber A. By this means the ship D is slightly raised trom the keel blocks 30. The said keel blocks and the Wedges 28 and 29 are now removed intact Without injury and the ship is ready for launching.

This is accomplished by withdrawing the key 123 when the locking handle 119 swings up and the latch hooks 118 unlock -themselves from the shackle irons 115, andthe sliding timbers B with the ship D slide down the standing Ytimbers A. As the standing` timbers A are drawn up by the tackle blocks, the aprons 74 ll up the gap between the loiver ends 65 ot the said standing timbers and the upper ends 62 ot the runway timbers (il. After the said ends 65 and G2 are separated from each other, blocks 160 are placed between said ends'and under the aprons 71. The blocks 160 constitute safety locking devices or the standing timbers A., and prevent the latter slipping after being pulled up in case of breakage of the chains .70 or any of their connections.

Having described my invention what l desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim is:

1. In a launching device the combination of supporting blocks having inclined upper faces with tapered notches, roller bearing casings, with inclined bottom Walls seated in said notches, rollers gradually varying in dia-meter, one relatively to the other, in each of said casings, bearing plates supported on the rollers, standing timbers supported on the bearing plates and sliding timbers slidably supported on the standing` timbers.

2. In a launching device the combination ot supporting` blocks, having inclined upper faces, standing timbers over said blocks, means to longitudinally move said standing timbers, means to automatically raise said standing timbers While moving longitudinally, sliding timbers slidably supported on the standing timbers and means to lock the sliding timbers in place.

3. In a launching device the con'ibination of supporting blocks having` inclined upper faces with tapered notches, rollers gradually varying in diameter, one relatively to the other, in said notches, stending` timbers sliding timbers slidably supported on the sgandin(l timbers and chains for the standing tnnbers to horizontally move themW et. ln a launching device the combination of supporting` blocks having inclined upper Jfaces with tapered notches, roller bearing casings With inclined bottom Walls seated in said notches, rollers of various diameters in said casinos, said rollers extending slightly above the upper laces et the supportingr blocks, bearing plates supported on said rollers, standing timbers carried on said bearing plates, sliding` timbers slidably supported on the standing timbers, chains with their lower ends engaging the lower ends ot the standing timbers, means connected to said chains to longitudinally move them and thereby move the standing timbers, the rollers rolling with the movements of the standing timbers and locking means tor the sliding timbers,

5. ln a launching device the combination or supporting` blocks having` inclined upper laces with tapered notches, casings with inclined bottom Walls seated in the notches, rollers ot various diameters in said casings, bearing` plates supported on said rollers, standing timbers carried on said bearing plates, l sliding timbers slidably supported on the standing timbers, the sliding timbers composed of timbers with their adjacent ends flexibly connected to each other, chains to longitudinally move the standing timbers and locking means for the sliding timbers.

G. 1n a launching device the combination of stationary supporting blocks having inclined upper faces, standing timbers over said blocks, stationary supporting timbers in line Vwith said supporting blocks with their upper ends abutting against the ad]- acent ends of the supigiorting` blocks, running timbers 'fastened to said supporting timbers with their upper ends in line with the upper ends ci? said supporting timbers, means to longitudinally move the standing timbers, means to automatically raise the standing` timbers .vhile moving longitudinally, sliding timbers slidably supported on the standing timbers, means to lock the sliding timbers in place and means to lock the standingtimbers in place when in their upper positions.

7. ln a launching device the combination et stationary `supporting` blocks, standing timbers over said blocks, station ary supporting timbers in line with said supportingblocks with their upper ends abutting against the adjacent ends oi? the supporting` blocks, runway timbers fastened to said supportingl timbers with their upper ends in line with the upper ends ot the supporting timbers, means to longitudinally move the standing timbers, means to automatically raise the lone' '1. lliv, slidin timbers slidably supported on he standing timb s, vlneans to loch the sliding timbers in place, and blocks located between the standing timbers and the runway timbers when they are separa-ted from each other.

Signed at Jersey City Hudson and State or' hew day of May A. D. 1921.

FRANK FUR-LUN@ in the county 01':

standing tin1bei':; While moving Jersey this 23d 

